(The Canadian Press circulated the following article on April 6.)
MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. says it has placed orders for 75 high-horsepower locomotives from two builders, with options to buy 75 more.
Financial details were not disclosed. The Montreal-based railway (TSX:CNR) said Wednesday it will take delivery of 50 ES44DC locomotives from GE Transportation Rail, a unit of General Electric Company, and 25 SD70M-2s from Electro-Motive Diesel, starting in late 2005.
The firm orders will allow CN to replace 100 older 3,000-to 3,600-horsepower road locomotives. The new units are almost 20 per cent more fuel-efficient.
“Our orders for 75 new locomotives will upgrade CN’s motive-power fleet at a time of continued growth in all of our businesses across the network, including import/export of both bulk shipments and intermodal traffic,” CEO Hunter Harrison said in a release.
“These new units are the most reliable, most fuel-efficient ever and comply fully with the latest regulatory requirements for reduced locomotive exhaust emissions.”
The ES44DCs are rated at 4,400 horsepower and the SD70M-2s at 4,300 horsepower.
CN said it has also negotiated options, effective through 2008, to acquire 25 more ES44DCs and 50 more SD70M-2s.
At the end of 2004, CN had 1,343 main-line locomotives and 718 yard-switching locomotives.